Two knives tied to defendant in toy box murder trial

An expert witness testified Monday that bloody fingerprints found on two knives believed to have been used to stab a Santa Rosa woman 68 times belonged to her boyfriend — the father of her two children, Honorio Pantaleon.

Terry Hamlin, a Department of Justice analyst, said prints left on serrated and straight-blade knives that prosecutors said killed Patricia Barrales, 26, matched samples taken from Pantaleon, 31.

The testimony came in the 13th day of the first-degree murder trial that is expected to run through mid-December. Pantaleon is accused in the Mother’s Day 2008 slaying of Barrales at their Rincon Valley apartment. Their children, then ages 2 and 4, were believed to be home at the time, and the trial has included testimony from the eldest child.

Prosecutors said the one-time vineyard worker and ex-convict attacked Barrales because he was jealous that she had a better job and was attractive to other men. He stashed her body in their children’s toy box after cutting her dozens of times, slashing her throat and leaving an 8-inch knife buried in her eye, Deputy District Attorney Tashawn Sanders said in opening statements.

After the killing, Pantaleon took his children with their birth certificates to his mother’s house in Kelseyville, prosecutors allege. Two days later, prosecutors said he tried to shoot Barrales’ mother, but the gun didn’t fire. He was arrested the same day in Ukiah.

In addition to murder, Pantaleon is charged with attempted murder and a torture allegation. Pantaleon has pleaded not guilty and not guilty by reason of insanity. His lawyer, Jeff Mitchell, has said Pantaleon suffered delusions that Barrales’ family was out to get him and had a short temper that was ignited by heavy drug and methamphetamine use.

If convicted, he faces life in prison without parole. Prosecutors are not seeking the death penalty.

The trial so far has hinged on witnesses called by Sanders and co-counsel Tania Partida, including brief testimony from Pantaleon’s now 6-year-old son. The boy said he saw his father stab his mother once and then close the bedroom door, Sanders said.

The boy said Pantaleon emerged minutes later with blood covering his clothes and face, Sanders said.

The boy’s testimony and cross-examination was done through closed-circuit TV.

Other witnesses have included mother-in-law Isabel Barrales and several members of the Pantaleon family. On Monday, Department of Justice toxicologists said Pantaleon had no alcohol in his blood and only trace amounts of methamphetamine.

One subpoenaed witness who refused to testify is in jail, facing possible contempt charges. Jorge Figueroa, who prosecutors said bought ammunition for Pantaleon at a Ukiah sporting goods store, has been in custody since Nov. 10, shortly after the trial began.

Jurors were excused by Judge Ken Gnoss for the rest of the week for Thanksgiving and were ordered to return on Monday.